Just trying to catch up with emails and saw your last entry! Great news, you all!! The Lord must have some special plans in mind for you, James. Stay strong in the Lord. You can trust Him, He is the Author and Perfector of your faith. Follow Him closely. Rejoicing with you in song and in praises.
In Him, Lynne Baber

Thanks for the update, wondered how James has been doing. He has a wonderful future ahead oh him. Those of us on on the HVJ who prayed for James before and after is surgery, I'm sure are thrilled.
Fran

Congratulations on your investment in life despite huge challenges for such a talented young man you are! It was good to learn you were able to attend in Fiddle Camp this past week... and maintain recovery limitations. That was difficult, but you know MUST be in charge.

A Missoula Nurse, Friend of a Camp Attendee, and so proud of your role modelling too.

It was so wonderful to see you in church on Sunday what a surprise. We pray for your continued recovery and relief from pain, may Christ our Lord give you his strength and healing. God Bless You and your family!

Just wanted you to know that we have been praying for you and will continue to as you regain your strength and heal. We are so thankful that you are doing better and look forward to seeing you at church in the near future. Much love and blessings from the Payne Family~ Rod, Tammy, Noah and Nash

It was indeed a privilege to be at your concert in Washington, DC with Hannah and be able to spend time with you afterwards. We are so pleased to hear you are getting stronger every day. God is so Good.

Hi James,
I'm so glad you're back at home and on your way to full recovery. What an experience you've been through..... My continued thoughts and prayers are with you and your family daily. Love, Miss Linda

Hi James
My son, Jordan, who is one year older than you, finds out on June 6, when his surgery date will be. I am his mother. I truly wish all of you children didn't have to deal with any things like this. I really love kids. I hope with all my heart, that all of your pain is over. You are in my thoughts and prayers. Mom Linda from Canada

Hi my names Janice, I'm the same age as you and I'm about to have one of my valves replaced in a few weeks. I'm really glad to hear how sucessful your operation was. Is there any advice you could give me as it would help a great deal. Keep smiling :-)

We are so excited to see that you made a post! And that you are on your way home! We are praying for you and will continue to do so! Praising God for never leaving or forsaking you and your family. We are excited for your return!!!! Booyeah! Love, Life and Jesus win again!

Hallelujah!!! We'll keep praying as you start the next chapter of this journey. You all must be exhausted! As Paul learned and shared, when we are weak, He is our strength. May His strength continue to sustain you!
-Jim & Dayle

What a praise to read your journal entry this morning...thank you Lord for answering our prayers.
"Be exalted, O LORD, in Your strength; We will sing and praise Your power." Ps.21:13
We continue to pray for your healing James. Looking forward to seeing you when you get back home!
Julie Nichols

Wonderful news, James! Praising God with you and your family! Most of us have had a series of ups and downs in our recoveries. Just as long as the overall movement is up, that's great. You've had more than your share already, so here's hoping for smooth sailing from here. But you know you are in God's hands and He will work all things together for good according to His purposes. Have a good trip back to MT!

James! So glad you are finally feeling a little better! Hope you get the OK to go home soon. If not, I've just arrived on the East Coast (in NY right now) and was planning to drive up to Boston to see you and your Mom in a few days.... I better keep checking whether you're still there! Can't believe you may make it back to Bozeman before I do--such good news!!! Much love, Anna

James, I am a fiddler from California and a friend of many of your fiddle friends. You are an inspiration and we are all pulling for and praying for you (even people who have never met you but are moved by your strength and spirit). Stay strong.

Sandy, thanks so much for taking the time to write all the updates. We've been following James progress closely and praying for all of you many times each day. So thankful to hear about the upswing and the news that James is feeling better today. I can't believe you may be headed home tomorrow. What a victory! Your mom's heart (and Doug's too) has been such a sweet to participate in through your entries. We'll continue to pray for full recovery. Give James our love! Joni, for all the Balians

Praise God! I saw Joel at Rosauer's today and asked bout James and you all and started praying earnestly for you all right away. We love you and are grateful for all that God is doing in and through you all. We are cheering you into victory through prayer. I loved your post about 'crying for him' because that is such a Mom thing to say. Now being a mom, I get it. =) You are an amazing mother and wife and it is a picture of Heaven to me to watch you and your family walk with God's hands in yours through this.
Tana Padilla

Praise God! It is so good to hear some good news from Boston. Pace yourself James. Don't over due it. We are extremely excited to hear that you guys are close to coming home. There is a silver lining in all of this James, as God has said that proven character comes from persevering in tribulations. Way to battle James!
We love you! The other Schlender Family.

Sandy, we have met very briefly in the halls of Willson. We think you and Doug are the most loving and courageous parents. Just know that there are many mothers/& dads that have shed tears of joy, saddness and then joy again. Hooray and thank you for keeping all updated. God's blessing came again today. Ron & Marcia Anderson
Billings

Praise the Lord! We have been praying fervently for all of you, and this is such wonderful news in this afternoon's report (5/20/11)! I am so proud of the godly young man you have been through this trial, James! Continue to be strong and courageous in the Lord!

I recently came upon a short devotional that I had tucked away which contained a prayer written by Blaise Pascal, the brilliant 17th century intellectual. This prayer is so beautiful in its simplicity and helpful in its message:

"Lord, help me to do great things as though they were little, since I do them with Your power; and little things as though they were great, since I do them in Your name."

Hugs to you, my friends, and we'll see you when you get back to Bozeman. Love you! :0)

I am from billings harvest church is the mother church to Journey, I have been following the web Journal that brian has been posting, I just have to say such a courages young man to have to go threw so much in life at such young age, praying for healing and to get him home where he belong,Best wishes to James and his family.barbie

Sandy---thanks for keeping us updated here in Montana. It is really raining as I am thinking of ya'll and praying for health. Thought I would read in James and found James 5:7-8 " Be patient, therefore, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. Behold, the farmer waits for the precious produce of the soil, being patient about it, until it gets the early and late rains. You too be patient: strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand." It is raining here so James' heart is being strengthened!!!! We care---God bless you--Mike and Terri Kelly

Hey James, this is Marina pendleton.
I have been reading all your journal updates and praying for you. I know you will make a complete recovery and I can't wait to see you again and hear your fiddle.
I thought I would share one of my favorite verses with you- "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct thy paths." -Proverbs 3:5-6
You are in God's hands!
Marina

Greetings from Randy and Kim here at Pioneer Mountain Ranch. This is Randy typing ( actually this is Randy hunting and pecking the key board ) I hope the shock of an email from a tech-no-logically-challenged cowboy wont set your healing back -- Lord knows you have had enough glitches already !!
As I am sure you are aware , I have been speaking with your dad on the phone every couple days since before your surgery -- It has helped me , and hopefully been a source of encouragement for Doug as well as Sandy and yourself.
Thank you Sandy for taking the time and effort to post this journal -- Kim and I start and end our days with your journal and Prayers for James , Doug , and Sandy...
This may be news to you James , but the day you were born I received a phone call from your folks requesting prayer for you -- how clearly I remember the emotions in your fathers voice -- the same sounds I hear now in his voice ...
James , I was told years ago that the key to a good story is creating and relieving tension . Your life isn't just a good story James , it is a GREAT STORY !! -- God is using you mightily in your circumstance to affect the hearts of a multitude -- God's hand has been on you so clearly from the start -- we believe He has gifted you and preserved you and sustains you even now in this difficult time -- BUT ENOUGH TENSION FOR THIS CHAPTER -- how about we move on to some relief ? WE are so proud of you James -- your character under these circumstances is an inspiration to us all .
The book of Ecclesiastes tells us that there is a " season " for everything under the sun --
Our prayer is that this season of pain and duress will soon give way to a season of rejoicing and health -- We love you James, and look forward to watching YOUR GREAT STORY as it continues to unfold -- thanks for letting us be a small part of it !
Press On Randy and KIM

Both of you are such troopers! Wow. I am keeping you in my heart and prayers. James, I hope that your pain resides and that you will be able to breathe comfortably soon; I have asthma so I can understand what it is like to not be able to take a deep breath. Sandy, I know James appreciates you being there for him. There is nothing like a mom being there for you at every moment! God will give you both the strength for each and every moment. Can't wait to see you both again and hear James play that fiddle! You can do it!

You don't know me, but I'm praying for you. From personal experience I know recovery from major surgery is rough, but you've got so many people pulling for you, praying for you, and caring about you. You're going to get through this season in your life and will have a great story and a scar to show off (remember: chicks dig scars!). Praying for no more complications and for a serious reduction in pain for you.

It gets better, I promise you that. I know that's hard to believe right now, but it does.

James Davis, I love you so much and am praying praying praying for you, constantly! I found this passage the other day and thought of you.
"The Lord watches over you-the Lord is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord will keep you from all harm-He will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore." Psalm 121:5-8
Jesus loves you so much and is watching over you. He is embracing you, and I am so jealous :) Wish I could be there! I love you!! Stay strong buddy.
Love ALWAYS, JenJen

James Mom
You know this is not an unusual complication and seems it was dealt with quickly. I also wonder why James is not getting adequate pain medication? The goal of healing is to keep pain at a minimum so the body can heal. Praying for all of you.
Fran (HVJ)

I will be praying for James pain and discomfort. But I have a question - can't they give him meds for his pain???????????? If they need to keep the tube in to get the fluid off, then why not keep it in and give him pain meds? My 6 year old grandson had the worse kind of ASD back a few years ago - needed to have his aorta move and a patch put in the hole, He had it done at CHOP but I don't remember him with this kind of pain.